Walnut rootstock &#39;VX211&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of walnut rootstock denominated ‘VX211’ is described. This new variety, ‘VX211’, can be propagated through micropropagation or rooted cuttings. ‘VX211’ has vigor and survivability in the nursery and in the orchard. It has reduced susceptibility to damage from nematodes ( Pratylenchus vulnus ) compared to other Paradox rootstock. ‘VX211’ also has reduced susceptibility to damage from  Phytophthora citricola  in greenhouse screens and in the field compared to other Paradox rootstock.

FIELD OF INVENTION

Botanical/commercial classification: (Juglans hindsii×Juglans regia)/new Paradox walnut rootstock. Varietal denomination: ‘VX211’.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct clonal rootstock of Paradox walnut tree (Juglans hindsii×Juglans regia) that has been denominated varietally as ‘VX211’, and more particularly to such a walnut rootstock that is vigorous, that has reduced susceptibility to nematodes (Pratylenchus vulnus) and Phytophthora (Phytophthora citricola), and that further is easily clonally propagated by micropropagation.

It has long been recognized as desirable to provide vigorous walnut rootstocks that have increased resistance to soil pests and diseases, specifically nematodes (Pratylenchus vulnus) and Phytophthora (Phytophthora citricola). The rootstock of the present variety, ‘VX211’, is similar to other Paradox walnut rootstocks (Juglans hindsii×Juglans regia), except that it has increased resistance or tolerance to Pratylenchus vulnus and Phytophthora citricola and can be easily micropropagated to produce a vigorous clonal Paradox rootstock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It was found that the walnut rootstock ‘VX211’ of the present invention exhibits the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   a) can be propagated through micropropagation or rooted         cuttings;     -   b) has vigor and survivability in the nursery and in the         orchard;     -   c) has reduced susceptibility to damage from nematodes         (Pratylenchus vulnus) compared to other Paradox rootstock; and     -   d) has reduced susceptibility to damage from Phytophthora         citricola in greenhouse screens and in the field compared to         other Paradox rootstock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TABLES

Table 1 shows comparative nursery performance of ‘VX211’ and other walnut rootstock clones.

Table 2 shows growth rating and diameters for ‘VX211” and other rootstock clones.

Table 3 shows field performance of clonal Paradox walnut hybrids, Northern California black walnut and Chinese wingnut rootstocks in non-infested soil and soil infested with Phytophthora.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows performance of ‘VX211’ compared to ‘AX1’ under pressure from nematodes at varying densities.

FIG. 2 shows a visual rating of tree growth and condition of clonal and seedling test trees at a Jenny Lind, Calif. field site.

FIG. 3 shows cumulative percent mortality of clonal and seedling test trees at a Jenny Lind, Calif. field site.

FIG. 4 shows tree mortality of clonal and seedling test trees at a Linden, Calif. field site.

FIG. 5 shows relative resistance to Phytophthora citricola among clonal and seedling test trees in greenhouse experiment.

FIG. 6 shows ‘VX211’ at 10 years of age.

FIG. 7 shows bark of ten-year old ‘VX211’.

FIG. 8 shows several three-year old trees of ‘VX211’.

FIG. 9 shows bark at base of three-year old ‘VX211’.

FIG. 10 shows bark and lenticels farther up the stem of ‘VX211’.

FIG. 11 shows 6-month old greenhouse grown ‘VX211’.

FIG. 12 shows grafted ‘VX211’.

FIG. 13 shows spring foliage of ‘VX211’.

FIG. 14 shows deep red of new foliage of ‘VX211’.

FIG. 15 shows upper side of mature leaf of ‘VX211’.

FIG. 16 shows lower side of mature leaf of ‘VX211’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The new rootstock of the present invention was selected as part of the “Paradox Diversity Study” (PDS) which was initiated in 1996 to study the genetic diversity of commercial Paradox sources. The study included approximately 300-500 seeds each (depending on the predicted percent Paradox), from 37 black walnut sources of Paradox provided by California walnut nurseries, and seven controlled crosses made at the University of California, Davis and open-pollinated controls from different Juglans species. Seeds were germinated and grown at 3 different nurseries for one year and then seedlings were distributed to cooperating researchers for tests of response to nematodes, Phytophthora (seed supplied), crown gall (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) and the field environment (field trials). The study was repeated in 1997.

The rootstock of the present invention was evaluated for response to nematodes in 1998 along with 9 siblings and the remaining rootstock families. One-year old seedlings were planted on 1.2 or 1.8 meter spacing with 3.35 meter centers. The field test site was infested with a single population of root lesion nematode (P. vulnus) originally placed on site in 1976. At planting time seedlings were inoculated with additional P. vulnus. Each fall 20 grams of root tissue were collected from each tree. These roots were placed in a mist chamber for 5 days for nematode extraction and nematodes/gram root was calculated.

In July 1998 it was evident that one seedling (‘VX211’) was more vigorous than the others, but in the fall the nematodes were abundant on the roots of ‘VX211’. In July 1999 roots were collected and again nematodes were found to be abundant, but the seedling ‘VX211’ continued to be more vigorous than the other seedlings in spite of the nematodes. Due to its apparent superiority it was transplanted to a “mother block” at Kearney Agricultural Center. In winter 2000-2001 propagating wood was collected and ‘VX211’ was propagated by hardwood cuttings and by micropropagation. In 2002 a “stock block” was established on the U.C. Davis campus with 6 trees of ‘VX211’ as well as other promising selections.

Propagation of ‘VX211’ both by standard hardwood cuttings and micropropagation was successful. From November 2002. to October 2003, 212 ‘VX211’ plants were micropropagated, rooted in gelled medium and acclimatized in the greenhouse; 153 (72%) survived. When rooted ex vitro, 126/184 (68%) survived. Hardwood cuttings rooted between 73% (11/15) to 87% (13/15). By November 2003 there were 187 available for field trials and 60 available for Phytophthora screening.

In March 2004, 48 plants of the ‘VX211’ clone and a standard Paradox (AX1) were evaluated for additional nematode screening and comparison. These were planted in 1/100^(th) acre macroplots. The macroplots had concrete sides 1.5 meter deep into the soil with open bottoms and were nematode-free. ‘VX211’ and AX1 were planted side by side in 48 separate macroplots infested with 0, 1, 20, or 500 P. vulnus nematodes per 250 cc of soil. Tree diameters and number of nematodes on the roots were determined 2004-2006 (FIG. 1). Nematodes built up quickly but ‘VX211’ was 30% taller in the first year and the diameter of ‘VX211’ was significantly greater than AX1 in all three years (FIG. 1). The vigor of ‘VX211’ under pressure from nematodes suggests that ‘VX211’ has a means to avoid or escape severe damage from nematodes.

In spring 2004, 106 plants of ‘VX211’ produced through micropropagation were planted in a nursery along with over 1800 plants of 17 different clones. At the end of the growing season ‘VX211’ was the most vigorous of all clones (Table 1). Eighty-two percent were graftable and the mean diameter was 31 mm at 5 cm from the soil surface.

Graftable trees were distributed for grafted field trials in 5 different orchards in replant situations in 2005. Grafting posed no problem and ‘VX211’ is considered compatible with English walnut scions. It is a typical Paradox in that respect. In addition, 30 each of 11 different genoptypes including ‘VX211’ were planted in May 2005 in Armstrong Tract, Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis campus, for artificial inoculation with Phytophthora citricola. A randomized block split plot design was used. For each rootstock clone, there were six four-tree plots to be infested and six single-tree plots to serve as non-infested controls. Northern California black (Juglans hindsii) and wingnut (Pterocarya stenoptera) were included as susceptible and resistant controls, respectively. In January 2006, 100 ml of a V8 juice-oat mixture infested with Phytophthora citricola was mixed into the upper 5 cm of soil around the trunk of each tree. A sterile mixture was applied to the uninoculated controls.

Early results from several of the grafted field trials are shown (FIGS. 2-4; Table 2). In all cases ‘VX211’ was one of the superior clones. The block artificially inoculated with Phytophthora was assessed for growth in trunk circumference and development of crown rot as indicated by trunk cankers extending up from the soil surface in November 2006. Sixty-two percent of the susceptible controls were rotted or dead. The uninoculated controls of ‘VX211’ were the most vigorous trees in the block apart from the wingnut controls. No cankers were found on ‘VX211’ or many of the other clones, however the Phytophthora inoculation did appear to depress growth somewhat in ‘VX211’ (Table 3).

Simultaneously with field trials, greenhouse trials were carried out to assess the relative susceptibility of ‘VX211’ and other selected clones to Phytophthora citricola. Standard Phytophthora screening methods were used. Clonal selections including ‘VX211’ were micropropagated, rooted, acclimatized and chilled, and at 2-6 months were transplanted to pots of artificially inoculated soil. Four isolates of P. citricola from different districts of California were used to infest the soil. The isolates were grown in separate jars of V8 juice-oat-vermiculite substrate for one month, mixed in equal proportions and mixed in the soil (40 ml inoculated substrate per liter of soil). Starting two weeks after transplanting, all plants received 48-hour periods of soil flooding every two weeks. Three months after transplanting, soil was washed from the plants and the incidence and severity of crown rot were determined. One selected clone, VX211 consistently showed moderate resistance. The results from 2006 trials are shown in FIG. 5.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

This description is based on the original selection of ‘VX211’, ungrafted, at ten years of age, a 3-year old ungrafted tree in Phytophthora field screen, and a greenhouse-grown plant at 6 months of age. Figures are also shown of a grafted ‘VX211’ tree. Data for the botanical description were collected in spring 2007.

The Munsell Color Charts for Plant Tissues (1977. GretagMacbeth, New Windsor N.Y.) is used in the identification of color. Also, common color terms are to be accorded their ordinary dictionary significance,

-   Botanical classification: Juglans hindsii×Juglans regia -   Female parent: Juglans hindsii -   Male parent: Juglans regia ‘VX211’ differs from its female parent by     having fewer leaflets/leaf, broader leaflets and hybrid vigor.     ‘VX211’ differs from its male parent by having more leaflets/leaf     and hybrid vigor. ‘VX211’ does not differ substantially from other     similar hybrids except in its superior performance under adverse     soil conditions as described in the “Background of the Invention”. -   Plant: The growth habit of the tree is illustrated in FIG. 6. This     10 year old tree is approximately 7.3 meters in height with a canopy     diameter of approximately 5 meters. The trunk circumference at 1.2     meters above ground level is about 0.61 meters. The bark and     year-old branches are light brown (2.5Y 7/2) (FIG. 7). New shoots     are green (5GY 7/6). Lenticels (approximately 12 per 2.5 square cm)     are slightly lighter than the bark (2.5Y 8/2). The 3 year old trees     are 4.3-4.9 meters tall (FIG. 8). The bark is brownish-green (2.5GY     5/8) with scattered (22/2.5 square cm.) buff-colored lenticels     (7.5YR 8/2) (FIGS. 9, 10). The six month old greenhouse grown tree     is about 35 cm. tall and the main stem is about 1 cm. in diameter     (FIG. 11) and green (5GY/10). Lenticels about 0.5 mm long are more     dense at the base of the plant and are a buff color (2.5Y 8/4).     Graft take is in the normal range for seedling Paradox walnuts (FIG.     12). -   Foliage: The slightly pubescent new spring foliage has a reddish hue     to it (10R 4/8), darkest towards the tip (FIGS. 13 and 14) turning     green (5GY 5/6) as the leaves get older. The leaves are pinnately     compound with 13-15 leaflets. The mature leaves of the 6 month old     plant have 9-11 leaflets and are 30 cm long and 23 cm. wide. The     upper leaf surface is bright green and the same color as the stem     (5GY 5/10) (FIG. 14). The lower surface is slightly duller (5GY 6/6)     (FIG. 16). The leaflets are about 5 cm wide and 14 cm. long with a     petiole 4-8 cm. long. -   Inflorescence: No catkins or female flowers appeared in the first 10     years. The tree is probably male sterile as is typical with Juglans     hindsii×Juglans regia hybrids. -   Disease resistance and susceptibility: This rootstock is typical of     other Juglans Hindsii×Juglans regia hybrids except that it possesses     higher vigor and ability to survive heavy nematode loads. It is also     less susceptible to Phytophthora citricola than other similar     hybrids. -   Usage: The new rootstock of the present invention provides walnut     growers with a new clonally propagated Paradox rootstock. It can be     easily micropropagated.

TABLE 1 Clones grown in Stanislaus County, California in 2004 Plan- Graftable Graftable Diameter (mm) Clone ted N N % Mean SD Range CV Nematodes VX211 106 87 82 31 4.9 21-44 12.6 Phytophthora AZ2 230 151 66 26 5 13-38 19.2 AZ3 49 24 49 25 6.7 11-37 26.8 NZ1 172 111 64 26 4.4 10-39 16.9 JX2 246 191 78 29 4.1 13-39 14.1 RX1 104 78 75 18 1.6 14-22 8.8 AX1 163 86 53 27 4.3 14-40 15.9 GZ1 108 83 77 26 5.4 13-40 20.8 Px1 247 154 62 26 4.6 12-40 17.7 AZ1 52 38 73 30 4.4 22-43 14.7 UX1 27 23 85 25 4 15-30 16 GZ2 47 38 81 26 4.5 15-33 17.3 Blackline WIP3 158 66 42 26 5 12-35 19.2 WIP9 10 6 60 25 2.3 23~99 9.2 Control UX022 71 59 83 23 3.7 14-29 16.1 English Vina 14 10 71 18 3.7 13-24 20.5 Sunland 64 20 31 26 3.8 18-31 14.6 Totals 1868 1225 66 25

TABLE 2 Walnut Rootstock Orchard Trials-Yuba County. Established May 2005. Randomized complete block design with 4 clonal and 1 seedling Paradox rootstock. Twelve single tree replicates. All rootstocks generally grew well except AZ2. Midday stem water potential measurements suggest that replants and adjacent orchard trees were generally in a similar range to the replants. AZ2 did not. grow well despite having midday stem water potentials in a similar range to adjacent trees and the other replants. There was 100% survival of all replant sources. June December November % Change 2005 June 2005 2005 2006 (June Growth Diameter Diameter Diameter 2005 to Treatment Rating* (mm) (mm) (mm) Nov. 2006) VX211 3.0 29.0 31.2 42.5 a +46.6 AZ2 2.0 26.9 28.5 26.2 c −2.6′ NZ1 2.9 23.5 25.8 35.6 b +51.4 JX2 2.2 23.7 26.4 35.2 b +48.5 CONTROL 1.4 20.5 22.4 30.0 bc +46.3 *rootstocks were headed near or below 2005 diameter measurement point. 2006 measurement is on new shoot growing above previous cut. ′Growth rating descriptions: 0 No growth 1 Just breaking 2 Moderate growth 3 Vigorous growth

TABLE 3 Field performance of clonal Paradox walnut hybrids, Northern California black walnut and Chinese wingnut rootstocks in non-infested soil and soil infested with Phytophthora. Maternal background Percent of Incidence of Increase in Clone of hybrid Soil treatment Incidence of trunk circ. tree mortality trunk circ. (or species) (or species of standard) (January 2006) crown rot (%) Necrotic % (mm) AX1 californica Control  0 c  0 c  0 c 163 c P. citricola  4 c  1 c  0 c 146 cde AZ2 (major x hindsii)x nigra Control  0 c  0 C  0 C 116 fg P. citricola  0 c  0 c  0 c 117 fg NZ1 (major x hindsii)x nigra Control  0 c  0 c  0 c 116 fg P. citricola  0 c  0 c  0 c 130 def GZ1 hindsii Control  0 c  0 c  0 c 157 cd P. citricola  4 c  1 c  0 c 150 cd JX2 hindsii Control  0 c  0 c  0 c 166 bc P. citricola  0 c  0 c  0 c 135 def PX1 hindsii Control  0 c  0 c 0 c 169 bc P. citricola  8 c  1 c  0 c 157 cd VX211 hindsii Control  0 c  0 c  0 c 191 b P. citricola  0 c  0 c  0 c 147 cde RX1 microcarpa Control  0 c  0 c  0 c 112 fg P. citricola  0 c  0 c  0 c 116 fg WIP3 hindsii x regia Control  0 c  0 c  0 c 100 g P. citricola  8 bc  2 c  0 c 121 efg (NCB) (J. hindsii) Control 16 b 17 b 17 b 68 h P. citricola 62 a 59 a 59 a 57 h (Wingnut) (P. stenopiera) Control 0 c 0 b 0 e 226 a P. citricola 0 c 0 b 0 c 193 b ²All trees were planted May 2005. The assements of crown rot and mortality were made Nov. 21, 2006. Means within a column and without letters in common are significantly different (Waller k ratio). 

1. A new and distinct variety of walnut rootstock as shown and described herein. 